Dirty DUIs used to sway divorce judgments

October 18, 2011

Former and current law enforcement officers in Contra Costa County are under an FBI investigation for setting up DUIs for soon to be ex-wives, selling drugs and operating a brothel. [LATimes]

A whistleblower told authorities a private detective had been arranging for men to be arrested for drunk driving at the behest of their ex-wives and their divorce lawyers – and that they used decoys to assist in their entrapments, the LA Times said.

One alleged victim, David Dutcher, met a tall beautiful blond on Match.com in late 2008, a few months after separating from his wife.

“We had a lot in common,” he told the LA Times. Sharon loved four-wheel-drive trucks and sports.

Dutcher and Sharon met for coffee and then a dinner where she told him she had not had sex in a long time, the Times said. During their second date, Sharon wanted them to meet a friend of hers at a bar to celebrate a recent real estate deal.

Sharon’s friend Tash was a raucous brunette who was pounding down shots. The two women rubbed Dutcher’s neck and asked him to help them finish tequila shots before suggesting he follow them to house with a hot tub

After a few minutes, an officer pulled Dutcher over for a DUI.

His wife waited three months before telling a judge she feared for the safety of their children because of the DUI. The judge ordered that Dutcher’s visits with his children be supervised, the LA Times said.

Earlier this year, Contra Costa County Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Harold W. Jewett sent Dutcher a letter telling him he had been duped by Christopher Butler, a private detective and the subject of a state and federal investigation, the LA Times said.

“I hope in some small way this information will help you recoup both rights and dignities lost in one of the most deplorable legal practices I have ever heard of,” Jewett wrote.

Investigators determined Butler’s hiring of women to help him set up ex-husbands for DUIs was but only one of his illegal activities.

Butler, 49, a former police officer, was arrested in February for setting up at least five DUIs, selling drugs for law enforcement officers, and helping them open and operate a brothel, the LA Times said.

Butler told investigators his enforcement accomplices reasoned that they could shield their criminal activities because any complaints would be investigated by a state-run narcotics task force, which one of the officers headed, the Times said.

Officers from the San Ramon and Danville police departments and the narcotics task force have been implicated in the crimes that took place in Contra Costa County.

Prosecutors eventually dismissed charges in 20 DUI and vice crime cases handled by the suspect officers.

12 Comments

jumping in, your correct or I agree with you.
Anyone can be lured, baited, pushed, pressured or indirectly persuaded especially when a clever hoar is used.
What is in it for her are “expected” favors in return!
The bra does not have to be a gorgeous blond or brunette, just a two-face hustler offering cops what they want and getting favors in return (you might say a different form hoaring except with the cops!)
I will say that every FBI informant/ agent I met/ interviewed in my earlier years were not what one expect compared to LE informant (the feds never get involved with favors and let you decide for yourself). Of the lowest form are those working for PI/ Attorneys. But who am I to critize, the selected ones are needed based on their need or intentions (I only compliment and respect the FBI!)!

Where do you think he learned these tactics? I have heard of cases right here in SLO where SLOPD is using young beautiful women as decoys to call college age guys and ask them to get them marijuana or other pills. After refusing them for weeks or even months the girl is sweet, cunning and persistent. When the poor sucker finally says he will look around and try to find something for her, 10 officers swoop in and book him as a big bad drug dealer. Funny how when the police do it, it’s legal.

Nothing surprises me anymore. When my ex husband and I were going through a divorce 25 years ago he told me he would pay his attorney (he paid the attorney $4,000 as a retainer) before he gave me anything and HE wanted the divorce. He made $20,000 a month and with the help of his attorney had the child support reduced from $2100 a month to $150 a month in Los Angeles courts. They went so far as to put wording in a complaint indicating I partied every night, went to discos, did drugs, all of which were lies. Just to make a case against me. Yep! Nothing surprises me. and I have worked on the OTHER side as a Private Investigator no doubt helping someone make a case against a spouse who for all I know is an upright person. It’s all in the game. Happy to see these guys who certainly crossed the line will have to answer for what they did. Interesting the revelations about this Butler guy. The truth always comes out doesn’t it?

A good reason to support no-fault divorce and automatic 50/50 splits.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this sort of thing goes on all the time, all over the place.
Another such scam is a woman accusing the ex-husband of child molestation to force him to either give her what she wants in the divorce, or fight in court the charges against his own children (the accusers).
That actually happened here back in the 1980s with a Cal Poly professor (can’t recall his name).
His name, face and the accusations were plastered all over the news for months and his life ruined. He had to plead out to prevent his children from being subjected to a trial. Can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing,
Contra Costa County NTF, San Ramon and Danville police departments better get ready to break out the checkbooks. This is going to be expensive.

Actually, there is more to this. Butler had a scam going with the head of the Contra Costa County head of the narcotics task force, a wonderful gent named Norman Wielsch. (The same position as our wonderful Rodney John) They both worked together as former beat cops in the city of Martinez some years back. Butler started his own practice while Norm went to the task force. Sneaky Norm would steal drugs from the property/evidence room and get it to Butler or would sell it himself. The drugs included marijuana, meth, Xanex, and anabolic steroids. The idiot ended up selling to an informant with the FBI who then had Norm sell to them directly. He and Butler had some 25-30 counts against them with one million bail each. I believe dozens of cases have been dismissed due to this great example of law enforcement. I am sure he will enjoy his time in prison along with Butler.